Gills’ head coach Stephen Clemence’s reaction after League 2 Weekend match As 4- Players Sidelined
Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence was disappointed his side didn’t finish Grimsby Town off – but saluted the players’ efforts after a tough week.
Clemence revealed that the midweek sickness bug had eventually led to nine players going down with the illness along with three members of staff. Goalkeeper Glenn Morris, George Lapslie and Tim Dieng all managed 90 minutes despite struggling in the build-up to the game.
Gillingham still managed to create a host of good chances to beat Grimsby after recovering from going a goal down but the match finished 1-1.
Clemence said: “The players are very disappointed and some of them are drained through the illness as well.
“For some of them to stay on the pitch the length of time they did was fantastic.
“The dressing room was quiet and down but I have told them how proud I am of them
Gillingham midfielder George Lapslie was concentrating on the positives following a weekend draw.
The Gills dropped points against lowly Grimsby Town with a 1-1 home draw but Lapslie was just pleased they played well and created chances.
Lapslie said: “We’re disappointed not to have taken the three points but we can take a lot of positives from the performance, we created more chances than we normally do, it is what it is, we go again.”
The Gills have seven games left to make the play-offs – the club’s minimum target this season.
They finished the weekend game a point outside of the top seven but with a poor goal difference and having played more than most.
Nevertheless, Lapslie can see things moving in the right direction, saying: “You obviously want to win but it’s not the worst point in the world, teams around us are dropping points, we go again and fight at Morecambe (on Saturday) to try and get three points again.
“For me, I would rather come in with five chances and not score than not have a chance. Days like that when you get a chance from Tim (Dieng, which led to Lapslie’s goal) and other opportunities, from my point of view it feels positive
“I felt like we would win the game, even when they scored, I didn’t feel at any point they really took the game to us too much. When you’re playing it is hard to know what it looks like but it felt comfortable, our press was right, everyone was being brave on the ball and had options when you had the ball. I felt as good as I had felt in a Gills shirt, like we are moving in the right direction.
“On another day we go on and win by two, three or four, we had chances, we got into good areas, good chances, we have to look forward and put them in the back of the next at Morecambe.”
